Making the Topic Meaningful:
Learning the concept of chemical reactions in class and applying it to real life helps the student better understand how chemistry affects his/her life. There is chemistry in acid rain and smog. It gives the student a real sense of purpose and importance for learning about chemical reactions. It connects science concepts and applies a scientific way of thinking to personal interests and social issues of the students.
Virtual Field Trip has three "stops" on its itinerary, all involving chemical reactions. It offers an interactive approach to answering questions about chemical reactions. The chemical reactions introduced in this unit cover the chemical reactions for smog, acid rain, and the formation of polymers. There are specific questions at the beginning of each stop on the field trip itinerary, posed to generate student interest and curiosity. Each question is linked to a specific web page which will provide useful information for each topic.(eg. Acid Rain: Will it REALLY turn your hair green?)
Making Use of Inquiry:
After conducting a guided lab "Making Polymer Balls" the students design and conduct a lab (variation) to make a different polymer ball. They develop descriptions, explanations and predictions.
Students manipulate variables in a virtual lab.
Students predict the identity of unknown solutions using pH values.
Lesson Sequence:
Each lesson in this unit builds to reinforce that chemical reactions occur all around us, giving the students a deeper understanding of the world in which they live. Each lesson gives the students an opportunity to investigate and learn more about a specific topic through a various approaches; labs, journal writing, demonstrations, lecture, class work, class activities and discussions.
This unit also allows for time flexibility. If an activity/lab takes longer than anticipated, or more time is required to better explain a concept, the students can access Virtual Fieldtrip from home (as homework) to "finish up" each section. It is a structured, well-guided ongoing activity. The program is accessible through the teacher's website. Using the computer/internet to complete these lessons will keep the students engaged in learning. (Hopefully it almost feels like fun rather than work!) I've included links for video demonstrations, virtual labs, pictures, etc.
At the conclusion of Virtual Field Trip, the students will choose a chemical reaction that interests them, research the reaction, create a poster or display for the reaction, write a two page paper about the reaction and present their project to the class. This final project is accompanied by a detailed rubric.
Assessed Student Learning:
Journal of Chemical Expeditions: Contains questions using various levels of Bloom's Taxonomy for each section of Virtual Fieldtrip. (Formative and Summative Assessment) The journal itself is an ongoing assignment worth 50 points.
Class work, Labs, Activities, Graphic Organizers, Discussions, Journal Writing, and Homework: (Formative assessment)
Final Project: Summative assessment (Worth 100 points)
Peer Evaluations for Final Project Presentations: supports metacognition.
Making the Topic Meaningful:
Learning the concept of chemical reactions in class and applying it to real life helps the student better understand how chemistry affects his/her life. There is chemistry in acid rain and smog. It gives the student a real sense of purpose and importance for learning about chemical reactions. It connects science concepts and applies a scientific way of thinking to personal interests and social issues of the students.
Virtual Field Trip has three "stops" on its itinerary, all involving chemical reactions. It offers an interactive approach to answering questions about chemical reactions. The chemical reactions introduced in this unit cover the chemical reactions for smog, acid rain, and the formation of polymers. There are specific questions at the beginning of each stop on the field trip itinerary, posed to generate student interest and curiosity. Each question is linked to a specific web page which will provide useful information for each topic.(eg. Acid Rain: Will it REALLY turn your hair green?)
Making Use of Inquiry:
Lesson Sequence:
Each lesson in this unit builds to reinforce that chemical reactions occur all around us, giving the students a deeper understanding of the world in which they live. Each lesson gives the students an opportunity to investigate and learn more about a specific topic through a various approaches; labs, journal writing, demonstrations, lecture, class work, class activities and discussions.
This unit also allows for time flexibility. If an activity/lab takes longer than anticipated, or more time is required to better explain a concept, the students can access Virtual Fieldtrip from home (as homework) to "finish up" each section. It is a structured, well-guided ongoing activity. The program is accessible through the teacher's website. Using the computer/internet to complete these lessons will keep the students engaged in learning. (Hopefully it almost feels like fun rather than work!) I've included links for video demonstrations, virtual labs, pictures, etc.
At the conclusion of Virtual Field Trip, the students will choose a chemical reaction that interests them, research the reaction, create a poster or display for the reaction, write a two page paper about the reaction and present their project to the class. This final project is accompanied by a detailed rubric.
Assessed Student Learning: